County approves letters to congressional delegation on border reimbursements and ACA premium tax credits

El Paso County received a federal legislative briefing Dec. 8 as staff outlined how provisions from Senate Bill 1790 were rolled into HR 1 (the Congress budget vehicle) and what that means for border state reimbursements and access to funds.

Elisa Tamayo, governmental affairs manager, said staff sent letters to the county's congressional delegation requesting guidance on accessing funds in HR 1 and asked for direction on whether those funds could flow directly to counties rather than via state pass‑through. She described outstanding appropriations matters and the possibility that enhanced premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act could lapse without congressional action, which would raise health insurance costs for many residents. "We sent two different letters to our congressional delegation asking for guidance on how to access those funds from HR 1," Tamayo said during the briefing.

Commissioner Butler asked that the letters include specifics about local impacts, including uncompensated care borne by the county hospital district, to strengthen the case. County staff agreed to add a paragraph with hospital district figures and to circulate updated language; the court approved sending the revised letters with those edits.

Staff noted timing sensitivity around a potential mid‑December Senate vote on health‑care subsidies and said they will follow up with the delegation at NACO in February if needed. No further action was required beyond authorizing the revised letters and sending them this week.